Talented students to attend less school

RIYADH
– The Ministry of Education plans to cut the number of school years for gifted students.They will study for six years instead of 12.

Informed sources in the ministry told Al-Eqtisadiah that the ministry set five conditions for gifted students who want to benefit from this system.

They include possession of all skills, scoring 98 percent and above as general marks, scoring 97 percent in each subject, passing a talent (mawhiba) test and passing a personal interview. The sources said parents’ consent is also a basic condition.

The ministry has completed setting the conditions and requirements for implementation of the system, which comes into force next year in all schools.

The sources said the system guarantees that students are not promoted in this way unless they are talented and pass the stages prepared for this purpose.

They will be monitored by several committees within the school and outside. Deputy Minister of Education for Girls’ Education Nora Al-Fayez said this system for talented students helps achieve the most important objectives for education policy.

She said leading officials in the ministry believe in the importance of caring for talented students and preparing a capable and gifted generation from an early age.

She said: “Such a system is considered to be among the oldest and effective educational practices to harness talented and outstanding students.

“The system takes into consideration the individual differences among students and helps them reach psychological and social maturity in a better way.

“Hence, this boosts their self-confidence.” She said the ministry approved this system in the 2011/2012 academic year and formed a central committee to implement it.